STCW Basic & Advanced
STCW 2010 mandatory safety training, including refresher courses every five years.
Alternatively, send us a direct email at captmohab@googlemail.com
News & Insights
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Current guidance, updates and notes from the Deep Blue team.
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Type a keyword — like GMDSS, tanker, DP, Gas Testing, ECDIS, or GISIS — and we'll take you straight to it.
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NewOffshore training section
Offshore, DP & Oil/Gas Terminal Safety
A dedicated course area for engineers, offshore technicians, Rig Movers, OIMs, DPOs, terminal personnel and gas testing teams — with enquiry and booking paths pre-filled for the exact topic you choose.
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- MumbaiAsia/Kolkata · now Mon 17:309:00 – 18:00 → 03:30 – 12:30Open
- SingaporeAsia/Singapore · now Mon 20:009:00 – 18:00 → 01:00 – 10:00Closed
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- TorontoAmerica/Toronto · now Mon 07:009:00 – 18:00 → 14:00 – 23:00Closed
- VancouverAmerica/Vancouver · now Mon 04:009:00 – 18:00 → 17:00 – 02:00Closed
Our impact
Real numbers from real maritime work
Live counters reflecting the seafarers we've trained, the vessels we've audited, and the flag states & classification societies we've supported.
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Seafarers trained
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Vessels audited & surveyed
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Flag states & class societies
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Years of maritime experience
Maritime Study eBooks
Concise exam-focused eBooks by a Master Mariner
Short, focused guides for nautical cadets, 2nd Mates, Mates and Masters — Ship Stability, Maritime Law, Cargo Work, Meteorology and more. $10 per book, with bundle discounts up to 50% off.
- 1 book — 0% off
- 2 books — 20% off
- 3 books — 35% off
- 4+ books — 50% off
New career path · Cruise industry
Train to work on a cruise ship — and see the world
Never been to sea? You don't need to be a seafarer to start a cruise career. Demand for cruise crew is at an all-time high — fleets are expanding fast and thousands of shore-based roles are open right now to motivated young men and women ready to travel, earn, and grow.
Our specialised Cruise Crew program prepares aspiring catering staff, cooks, housekeeping attendants, and sport & entertainment crew with the hospitality, safety, and service standards that major cruise lines require.
Open to men & women No prior sea experience Global placements
Catering Staff
Restaurant servers, bar staff, buffet attendants — the face of the guest experience at every meal and event.
- Set up dining venues, take orders, serve food & drinks
- Manage allergens, special diets and POS / billing
- Bar service, cocktail prep, stock rotation & hygiene
- Buffet replenishment and HACCP station hygiene
Cooks & Galley
Production and hygiene in a high-volume sea-going galley feeding thousands of guests and crew daily.
- Mise en place, line cooking, pastry or cold-larder work
- Galley cleaning, dish-wash and pot-wash rotations
- Temperature logs, HACCP records, allergen control
- Stores receiving, FIFO rotation and waste segregation
Housekeeping
Stateroom and public-area presentation to brand standard — keeping every guest space spotless and welcoming.
- Daily and turnaround stateroom service (beds, baths, amenities)
- Linen, laundry, lost & found and minibar checks
- Public-area cleaning: corridors, lifts, lounges, restrooms
- VIP turn-down service and reporting maintenance defects
Sport & Entertainment
Guest experience, activities and youth programmes — the energy team that drives onboard fun and engagement.
- Pool-deck activities, trivia, dance classes, tournaments
- Fitness instruction, gym-floor supervision, group classes
- Youth & teen club sessions (age-banded, safeguarding)
- Shore-excursion meet-and-greet, stage support, host duties
🌍 Travel the world · 💰 Earn in international currency · 🚀 Fast-track your career
Cruise Crew FAQ
Cruise Ship Crew Training — your questions answered
Entry requirements, training duration, costs, and placement support for aspiring cruise ship crew.
Before you contact us, please include the following so we can reply promptly:
- Full name, age, and country of residence
- Nationality and passport validity (months remaining)
- Language skills (spoken & written)
- Current role / hospitality or service experience (if any)
- Preferred cruise role (galley, housekeeping, F&B, bar, sport & entertainment, etc.)
- Preferred intake: July 2026, November 2026, or February 2027
- Valid seafarer medical (ENG1) — yes / no
- Best contact email and WhatsApp number
Explore
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Jump straight into any section — training, consultancy, courses, accreditations, news, or get in touch.
Home
Overview of our training, consultancy, and research.
About
Who we are, our mission, and our maritime experience.
Training
STCW, officer, tanker, and audit training streams.
Offshore, DP & Oil/Gas
DP, Rig Movers, OIM, Gas Testing, offshore technicians and terminal safety.
Consultancy
ISM, ISPS, MLC audits and flag/class surveys.
Courses
Browse all available courses and schedules.
Maritime Conventions Visuals
COLREGs, MARPOL, UNCLOS and Load Lines visual guides for phone-friendly study.
Accreditations
Our recognitions, approvals, and partnerships.
News
Articles, research updates, and industry insights.
Articles & Publications
Browse articles and publications from our editorial team.
Contact
Get in touch with our trainers and consultants.
LiveIMO Streaming Services
Watch IMO committee meetings live and follow the latest IMO Media Centre news.
Maritime Training & Consultancy · International
Building safer, smarter, more compliant crews for the global shipping industry.
We deliver STCW-aligned maritime training, ISM/ISPS/MLC consultancy, and surveys on behalf of classification societies and flag states — for shipping companies that take performance and compliance seriously.
Alternatively, send us a direct email at captmohab@googlemail.com
20+
Years of expertise
3,000+
Seafarers trained
40+
Vessels audited
Maritime Excellence
Maritime training, audit and consultancy — built on sea-time experience.
From the bridge to the engine room, from coastal trade to deep-sea operations — we train, audit, and consult with the same depth we expect from the oceans we serve.
STCW-aligned training
Courses built around STCW 2010 Manila Amendments and IMO model courses.
Officer & engineering competencies
Bridge & engine room resource management, ECDIS, GMDSS, and more.
Tanker & cargo expertise
Oil, chemical, gas tanker familiarization and advanced operations.
Audit & compliance
ISM, ISPS, MLC internal auditor and ISO 9001 lead auditor programs.
Maritime Training
Four training streams across every key competency area
From mandatory STCW basic safety to advanced tanker and auditor programs — delivered in-class, on-board, or as customised in-house training for shipping companies.
STCW Basic & Advanced
Mandatory safety training and refreshers for all seafarers.
Learn moreDeck & Engine Officer
Operational and management-level competency courses.
Learn moreTanker & Cargo
Specialised training for oil, chemical, and gas carriers.
Learn moreISM / ISPS / MLC
Internal auditor and management-system courses.
Learn more
New stream
Supply Chain & Logistics Studies
21 programmes from 1-week skills modules (Incoterms, freight forwarding, customs, DG) through 2–4-week professional courses, culminating in the 6-month Diploma in Maritime Logistics & Supply Chain Management. Delivered in-class and live online.
New section
Fishing & STCW-F Certification
Full STCW-F 1995 training pathway for skippers, fishing officers, engineers and crew — plus sustainable fishing practices, seasonal/regional/coastal bans, protection of spawning areas, and environmentally friendly disposal of fishing nets and ghost gear (MARPOL Annex V / GGGI). Culminates in a 6-month Diploma in Sustainable Fisheries, Spawning-Area Protection & Marine Stewardship.
Featured courses
Popular programs at a glance
A curated selection across our streams — each card shows the duration and the regulatory or certification standards the course is aligned with.
All courses available online — except STCW
Officer, tanker, audit, leadership, regulatory, commercial and safety & security courses can all be delivered live online worldwide. Group discount available for bookings of 4+ participants. STCW courses remain in-person only due to mandatory practical assessment requirements.
4 days
Advanced Fire Fighting (AFF)
STCW A-VI/3 — command, control, and tactics for shipboard fire emergencies.
STCW A-VI/3
10 days
GMDSS General Operator Certificate
Theory and practical operation of the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System.
GMDSS
5 days
ECDIS Generic
Operational use of ECDIS in compliance with STCW and IMO Model Course 1.27.
STCWIMO Model Course 1.27.
5 days
Online availableAdvanced Oil Tanker Operations
STCW A-V/1-1-2 — advanced training for masters, officers, and others responsible for oil cargo operations.
STCW A-V/1-1-2
Group discount for 4+ participants.
3 days
Online availableISM Code Internal Auditor
Plan, conduct, report, and follow up internal audits under the ISM Code.
ISM Code
Group discount for 4+ participants.
Maritime Training · Streams
Each Training Stream In Detail
Browse every training stream we deliver — pick a stream to see the full course list, durations, and STCW references.
Deck & Engine Officer
Bridge and engine room competency courses for officers at the operational and management levels.
Alternatively, send us a direct email at captmohab@googlemail.com
Tanker & Cargo Operations
Familiarization and advanced training for oil, chemical, gas tankers, and dangerous goods.
Alternatively, send us a direct email at captmohab@googlemail.com
ISM / ISPS / MLC & Auditor
Internal auditor and management-system courses aligned with international maritime regulations.
Alternatively, send us a direct email at captmohab@googlemail.com
Leadership & Human Element
HELM, multi-cultural crew management, BRM cognitive factors, and crisis & crowd management on passenger ships.
Alternatively, send us a direct email at captmohab@googlemail.com
Conventions & Maritime Law
Familiarization with SOLAS, MARPOL, STCW, MLC, ILLC, UNCLOS 82, admiralty law, and maritime governing bodies.
Alternatively, send us a direct email at captmohab@googlemail.com
Commercial & Operations
Marine insurance, P&I clubs, charter parties, dry cargo trading, and oil tanker port operations.
Alternatively, send us a direct email at captmohab@googlemail.com
Safety, Security & Environment
Crisis response, oil spill management, SAR, salvage, ISM, ISPS officer roles, ballast water, and environmental awareness.
Alternatively, send us a direct email at captmohab@googlemail.com
School of Nautical Studies
Academic and professional development for the deck department — navigation, maritime law, ship operations, and bridge competencies.
Alternatively, send us a direct email at captmohab@googlemail.com
School of Maritime Simulation
Simulator-based training in shiphandling, navigation, marine systems, and decision-making under pressure.
Alternatively, send us a direct email at captmohab@googlemail.com
School of Marine Engineering
Engine department training — hydrodynamics, propulsion, environmental control, and emerging marine technologies.
Alternatively, send us a direct email at captmohab@googlemail.com
STCW (Academic Programs)
Academic complements to STCW competency training — applied marine sciences, technology, and policy.
Alternatively, send us a direct email at captmohab@googlemail.com
Value Added Courses
Short courses for serving officers and shore staff — logistics, port operations, commerce, and compliance.
Alternatively, send us a direct email at captmohab@googlemail.com
Supply Chain & Logistics Studies
Dedicated stream for maritime logistics and supply chain professionals — from 1-week skills modules to a 6-month Diploma in Maritime Logistics & Supply Chain Management. Delivered in-class and live online.
Alternatively, send us a direct email at captmohab@googlemail.com
Fishing & STCW-F Certification
STCW-F 1995 (as amended) certification for fishing vessel personnel — skippers, officers, engineers and crew. Includes sustainable fishing practices, seasonal/regional bans, spawning-area protection and environmentally sound disposal of fishing nets and ghost gear.
Alternatively, send us a direct email at captmohab@googlemail.com
Maritime Consultancy · Packages
Each Consultancy Service In Detail
Complete consultancy coverage for ship management, audits, safety, class & flag surveys, pre-purchase & pre-charter, legal & arbitration, cargo claims, average adjusters, MLC disputes, oil spill compensation, training analysis, and publications.
Ship Management Support
Outsourced and co-managed technical, crewing, and vetting-readiness support.
End-to-end support for ship owners and managers — from technical management oversight and crewing strategy to pre-vetting preparation against OCIMF SIRE 2.0, CDI, and RightShip.
Alternatively, send us a direct email at captmohab@googlemail.com
Compliance & Audit Package
Independent audits and gap analysis aligned with ISM, ISPS, MLC, and ISO 9001.
Practical, closeable findings that strengthen your safety management system. We deliver internal audits, external audits, and pre-audit gap reviews against the international codes that matter.
Alternatively, send us a direct email at captmohab@googlemail.com
Safety & Risk Management
Build, refine, and embed safety management systems that crews actually use.
From incident investigation and root cause analysis to HSE program design, drill planning, and near-miss reporting — we help you embed a measurable safety culture across the fleet.
Alternatively, send us a direct email at captmohab@googlemail.com
Surveys for Class & Flag State
Independent maritime surveys on behalf of class, flag, owners, and underwriters.
Statutory surveys, condition surveys, pre-purchase inspections, and damage / on-hire / off-hire surveys — performed by qualified maritime surveyors with rigorous reporting standards.
Alternatively, send us a direct email at captmohab@googlemail.com
Training Needs Analysis
Map your training matrix to rank, vessel type, route, and regulation.
We map your fleet's training matrix against rank, vessel type, trading area, and regulatory requirements — and design in-house programs to close every gap. Outputs feed directly into your annual training calendar and budget.
Alternatively, send us a direct email at captmohab@googlemail.com
Maritime Projects & Publications
Manuals and operational publications for the maritime community.
We create and publish training material, operational manuals, and industry guidance for shipping companies, regulators, and academic partners.
Alternatively, send us a direct email at captmohab@googlemail.com
Pre-Purchase & Pre-Charter Surveys
Independent condition surveys before acquisition or fixture — protect your investment.
Detailed pre-purchase (P&S) and pre-charter / on-hire condition surveys covering hull, machinery, cargo systems, certification, and crewing. Reports are bank-, owner-, and underwriter-grade and stand up to commercial negotiation.
Alternatively, send us a direct email at captmohab@googlemail.com
Legal & Arbitration Support
Expert-witness, technical-advisor, and arbitration support for shipping disputes.
Independent technical and operational expert support for owners, charterers, P&I clubs, and law firms in LMAA, SMA, SCMA, HKIAC, and ad-hoc arbitrations, plus court proceedings. We do not provide legal advice — we provide the technical evidence your lawyers need.
Alternatively, send us a direct email at captmohab@googlemail.com
Cargo Claims & Disputes
Cargo damage, shortage, and contamination investigations and claim handling.
Independent cargo surveys and investigations for wet, dry, container, and project cargoes. We attend on damage notification, preserve evidence, quantify loss, and support recovery or defence of claims under Hague-Visby, Hamburg, and Rotterdam regimes.
Alternatively, send us a direct email at captmohab@googlemail.com
Average Adjusters Services
General Average and Particular Average adjustments under York-Antwerp Rules.
Full average-adjusting service for owners, hull underwriters, and cargo interests — General Average declarations, GA bonds and guarantees, particular average claims, sue-and-labour, and salvage apportionment under the York-Antwerp Rules and applicable policy wordings.
Alternatively, send us a direct email at captmohab@googlemail.com
MLC Disputes & Crew Claims
Maritime Labour Convention complaints, wage disputes, and crew-claim handling.
Independent technical and HR support on MLC 2006 onboard / onshore complaints, repatriation, unpaid wages, abandonment, contractual entitlements, and personal injury claims. We help operators close gaps before flag-state action and support seafarers with credible technical evidence.
Alternatively, send us a direct email at captmohab@googlemail.com
Oil Spill & Pollution Compensation Support
Pollution casualty response and compensation claims under CLC, IOPC Funds, and OPA-90.
Technical and claims support for oil-spill and pollution incidents — from first-response coordination and evidence preservation to quantum and recovery under CLC 1992, the IOPC Funds, Bunker Convention, HNS, and OPA-90 regimes.
Alternatively, send us a direct email at captmohab@googlemail.com
Maritime Consultancy
Beyond training — strategic support for ship managers and operators
Our consultants work alongside your shore office and crews on management-system audits, vetting readiness, surveys, and bespoke training programs.
- Ship management & operations support
- ISM, ISPS, MLC audits & gap analysis
- Safety & risk management systems
- Surveys for classification societies & flag states
- Maritime project development & publications
Maritime Research
Ongoing research projects shaping safer, cleaner shipping
Applied research led by Dr / Capt Mohab Abouelkawam and partners — translating findings directly into STCW curricula, audit checklists, and consultancy practice.
OngoingDecarbonization Pathways for Coastal Tanker Fleets
Modelling alternative-fuel transition scenarios (LNG, methanol, ammonia) for short-sea tanker operators, including crew competency gaps and onboard safety implications.
- Lead researcher
- Dr / Capt Mohab Abouelkawam, PhD, AFNI
- with Capt. (research fellow), Naval architect (associate)
- Jan 2025 – Dec 2026
- Regional shipowners' association · University maritime faculty
DecarbonizationAlternative fuelsCrew competency
In ReviewHuman Factors in ECDIS-Assisted Navigation Incidents
Mixed-methods study analysing bridge team performance and ECDIS over-reliance across 60+ near-miss reports, with recommendations for STCW refresher curricula.
- Lead researcher
- Dr / Capt Mohab Abouelkawam, PhD, AFNI
- with Senior DPA (industry advisor)
- Sep 2024 – Jun 2026
- Flag state administration · Bridge simulator centre
Human factorsECDISNavigation safety
Pilot PhaseMLC 2006 Welfare Outcomes on Mixed-Nationality Crews
Longitudinal survey of seafarer welfare indicators on multinational crews — fatigue, connectivity, grievance handling — benchmarked against MLC compliance audits.
- Lead researcher
- Dr / Capt Mohab Abouelkawam, PhD, AFNI
- with Occupational health researcher
- Mar 2025 – Mar 2027
- Manning agency network · Seafarer welfare charity
MLC 2006Crew welfareCompliance
Interested in a research project?
Industry partners, flag administrations, and academic institutions welcome. Send a quick note and we'll follow up within two business days.
Why us
Shipping is too complex for generic training
Our instructors and consultants are former masters, chief engineers, surveyors, and DPAs — practitioners who have lived the standards they teach.
Practitioner-led
Active masters, chief engineers, and auditors deliver every program.
Compliance-first
Curriculum traced to STCW, IMO model courses, ISM, ISPS, and MLC.
Global, flexible delivery
In-class, on-board, or in-house at your office worldwide.
"Their pre-vetting consultancy reshaped how our officers prepare for SIRE inspections. Findings dropped sharply on our next two visits."
Fleet Operations Manager
Tanker operator, Middle East
"We brought the firm on-board for an ISM internal audit. Practical, no-nonsense, and the action plan was actually closeable."
Designated Person Ashore
Bulk carrier company, Asia
"Customised BRM and ECDIS sessions for our OOWs were excellent — instructors clearly knew the bridge, not just the slides."
Crewing Director
Container line, Europe
Ready to build a safer, more capable crew?
Tell us about your training matrix or audit needs — we'll come back with a tailored proposal within two business days.
Get in touch
Alternatively, send us a direct email at captmohab@googlemail.com
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Deep Blue Training Solutions International
Course updates, audit news, IMO/STCW insights and behind-the-scenes from our training centres.
Connect with the Founder
Dr / Capt Mohab Abouelkawam PhD. AFNI — follow on LinkedIn
LinkedIn ProfileDr / Capt Mohab Abouelkawam PhD. AFNI